Falcon of Tekkadan
Chapter 39: Counsel
With Tekkadan's Shiden training complete, it was time for the Turbines pilots to go back to Saisei. Kenji was outside headquarters with Orga, Dante, Ride, and Derma, giving a proper goodbye to Azee and Eco.
"You kept up the good work. Give my thanks to Bro for me, as well." Orga said.
"Thank you, too. It wasn't bad living here." Azee said.
"After all, I couldn't beat you even once. But I'll be able to beat you the next time we meet." Dante said.
"Aw, come on. We'd miss you too much. It'll take you years for you to be as strong as our ace." Eco said, referring to Azee. "Heck, we might never see you again."
That really hurt Dante's pride. "Ouch."
Kenji started laughing. "You better step up Dante or you'll fall behind, I'll even train you if you want, maybe then you'll have a better chance of beating Azee."
Dante groaned. "You're not helping Kenji..."
Azee and Eco laughed, then Eco noticed something. "Hey, where's Lafter?"
"Oh, Lafter? She's saying goodbye to Akihiro." Azee said.
"Couldn't she do that here? Nothing could've stopped him from coming out here himself." Kenji pointed out.
"She said she wanted to give him a proper goodbye alone." Azee said. "Anyways, we'll see you later Kenji."
"Yeah. Perhaps we'll see you again on Saisei." Eco said.
Kenji smiled. "Looking forward to it girls."
Once Lafter was finished saying goodbye to Akihiro, all three Turbines pilots left Tekkadan to rejoin Naze.
A few days later after the Turbines left, Kenji was busy practicing his sword fighting and he also planned on target practice afterward. He was thinking about Akihiro and Lafter.
"Those two have definitely gotten close, I hope Uncle Naze will be able to let Lafter go so she can marry Akihiro. After what he's been through, Akihiro deserves to be happy." Kenji snapped out of his thoughts when he heard his tablet going off, it was Almiria.
Kenji answered the call. "Hi Almiria, how are you today?"
"Kenji, I just spoke to Macky, Lord Kujan is cracking down on the Turbines. I know you think of them as family, so I wanted to let you know." Almiria said.
"Lord Dunce? Please..." Kenji smirked. "Everyone in Teiwaz has gotten a shakedown from Gjallarhorn at least once. That moron doesn't have anything on them, he'll most likely make himself look even more stupid than before."
"It's more than that, Macky told me Lord Kujan is raiding all of the Turbines' secret routes and disguised offices." Almiria said. "Macky suspects someone in Teiwaz leaked the information to Lord Kujan."
"What? Could it be the same person who leaked the info about the Mobile Armor? The only person I know in Teiwaz who would benefit from backstabbing the Turbines is..." Kenji's eyes widened. "Jasley Donomikols..."
"One more thing, Macky said he thinks Lord Kujan took a Dáinsleif with him before leaving to investigate the Turbines." Almiria said.
"What the heck is a Dáinsleif?" Kenji asked.
"From what I could understand, a very powerful rail gun banned by Gjallarhorn." Almiria said.
"Why does a Seven Star need a banned weapon for a crackdown...?" Kenji then realized something. "He's going to use it to frame the Turbines. I need to warn Orga!"
"Please be careful." Almiria said before ending the call.
Kenji went to see Orga in his office. Once Kenji told him everything Almiria said, Orga immediately called McMurdo to confirm the information. Sure enough, McMurdo told Orga and Kenji that Gjallarhorn discovered a Dáinsleif in the Turbines' possession, thus making them an illegal organization now. After Orga ended the call with McMurdo, he called McGillis for more details and to ask for his help.
"They probably mean the Flauros you guys used. It's the same kind of weapon as the Dáinsleifs..." McGillis said.
Orga made the connection. "Then it's our fault that Bro..."
"Lord Dunce could've also planted a Dáinsleif on that freight ship." Kenji said.
"Can't you do something about it?" Orga asked.
"Come on Mac, the Turbines are being set up, most likely Jasley Donomikols, we can't let things go his way." Kenji said.
"Of course, I'll do what I can. But this is regular duty work for the Arianrhod Fleet. The Outer Earth Orbit Regulatory Joint Fleet won't be able to do much." McGillis said.
Orga had his hands on his head in frustration.
"This is a complete nightmare! We need to speak to Uncle Naze!" Kenji said.
"In that case, I'll end this call so you can contact Mr. Turbine, like I said I will do whatever I can to help." McGillis ended the call.
Kenji immediately contacted the Turbines. They answered the call.
"Uncle Naze! Aunt Amida! Girls! Are you all okay?" Kenji asked.
"We're fine so far Kenji, and I see Orga is with you." Naze said.
"Bro! Tell us where the Hammerhead is headed." Orga said. "We'll..."
"You guys stay out of this." Naze said.
Kenji was surprised. "Uncle Naze! What are you talking about?"
Orga was also surprised. "Bro!"
"We're an illegal organization now. If your ties to us are pointed out, what would happen to Tekkadan?" Naze asked.
"But this is all because we used Flauros..." Orga said.
"That has nothing to do with this. It's just that Flauros was chosen as a means to frame us. The one who planned all this is waiting for you guys to meddle in. So if you do anything rash, you'd be walking into their trap." Naze said.
"Was it Jasley Donomikols who sold you guys out to Gjallarhorn? He's the only person I can think of who'd do this." Kenji said.
"I think it's obvious as well, but there's no proof as usual. Anyway, this is all a result of Teiwaz's internal strife. It doesn't have anything to do with you." Naze said.
"We're a part of Teiwaz, too! It does have to do with us." Orga said. "Either way, I don't care. I'd do anything to save you..."
"Then hear me out." Naze started. "I exchanged the cup of brotherhood with you. But... I'm not your family."
"What?" Orga asked.
"What about me?" Kenji asked.
"It's true we consider you a part of our family as well, Kenji. But you're young, and you still have a full life ahead of you. You don't need to risk that life for us." Naze stood up from his chair. "And don't lose sight, Orga. Remember what it is you have to protect. Everything else comes next."
Orga tried to object. "But..."
Naze continued. "It takes more than just your average resolve to make your family happy. You don't have time to get entangled in other's trifles. Becoming the King of Mars is to make life easier for the Tekkadan members. You're the one that said that. So keep looking forward. Protect Tekkadan, you're family. That's all you need to think about. Got it, Orga Itsuka?"
"Bro..." Orga said.
"And Kenji Hayabusa. Thanks for all the memories. I wish you all the best, Falcon of Tekkadan..." Naze said before ending the call.
"Uncle Naze..." Kenji said.
